Are you aware of TACE treatment (Transarterial Chemoembolization) for liver cancer?

When we hear the word "cancer," we all get a little scared, right? That's normal. But with the advancement of medical science, there are now very successful and advanced treatments for cancer. Today, we're going to talk about a special treatment that specifically targets liver tumors and has fewer side effects than regular chemotherapy. This is called TACE. Let's take a look at the details.

What does TACE simply mean?

The full name of TACE is Transarterial Chemoembolization . Although the name sounds a bit complicated, what happens in this procedure is very simple. Simply put, it is a treatment that blocks the blood vessels that supply the cancer tumor, cutting off its blood supply.

Think of an unwanted weed in a garden. What would happen if we cut off the water supply to that plant? Without water, the plant would die in a few days. That's what happens with this TACE treatment. A cancer tumor is also an unwanted, fast-growing tumor. It needs a lot of blood to grow. In this treatment, doctors find the blood vessel that supplies blood to the tumor itself, inject a special substance into it, and block it. In this, two main things are combined to send it into the vein:

• Chemotherapy drugs: These are medicines that kill cancer cells.
• Embolic agents: These are like tiny plastic particles. They help to keep the chemo drugs inside the tumor. This allows the drugs to target the cancer directly, rather than traveling to other parts of the body.

How is this different from regular chemotherapy (Systemic Chemotherapy)?

When you hear chemotherapy, you probably hear about the type of treatment that involves injecting drugs into the body. We call that `Systemic Chemotherapy`. TACE is a slightly different, targeted treatment. Let's see what the main differences are between the two.

Who is TACE treatment suitable for?

This treatment is used in both adults and children. It is mainly used for liver cancer (`Hepatocellular carcinoma`) . In particular, TACE is often recommended as the first treatment for patients with tumors that are too large to be removed surgically.

Not only that, this treatment is also used for cancers that have spread (metastasized) to the liver from other places. For example:

• Breast cancer
• Colon cancer
• `Carcinoid tumors`
• `Neuroendocrine tumors`
• Ocular melanoma (cancer of the eye)
• `Sarcoma`

Will TACE harm liver function?

This is a problem that many people have. It's reasonable to wonder if cutting off blood flow to the liver will damage it. But there's nothing to worry about. The reason is that there are two main blood vessels that supply blood to our liver.

1. Hepatic artery: This artery supplies only a small portion of the liver's total blood supply. Surprisingly, cancerous tumors in the liver receive almost all of their blood supply from this artery.

2. Portal vein: This main vein supplies most of the blood needed by the liver.

In TACE, doctors only block that small vein, the hepatic artery . Even though the blood supply to the cancer is cut off, the healthy liver cells continue to receive all the blood they need from the main vein, the portal vein . Therefore, the normal functioning of the liver is not significantly affected.

How the treatment is performed

This treatment is performed by an Interventional Radiologist . That is, a specialist who uses imaging technologies such as X-rays and uses small tubes (catheters) to treat inside the body without making large incisions in the body.

Here is the step-by-step process of the treatment:

1. Preparation: Children are given general anesthesia. Adults are given sedation to help them feel light sleep and comfortable.

2. Inserting the catheter: The doctor makes a very small cut in the skin near your groin or wrist and inserts a thin tube (catheter) through it into a blood vessel.

3. Finding the path: Then, using a special live X-ray technique (fluoroscopy), the tube is carefully guided to the vein that supplies blood to the cancerous tumor in the liver.

4. Dye injection: To clearly see the tumor and the surrounding veins, a special dye (`contrast dye`) is injected through the tube.

5. Giving the treatment: Then, the mixture of chemo drugs and the `embolic agent` we talked about earlier is injected through the tube directly into the vein leading to the cancerous tumor.

6. Finishing: When the treatment is finished, the doctor will remove the tube and apply a small plaster over the incision. This will not require stitches.

What to expect after treatment?

After TACE treatment, many people may experience pain, nausea, vomiting, and a slight fever . This condition is called `postembolization syndrome`. This is normal and nothing to worry about. You will usually have to stay in the hospital for a day or two until these symptoms subside.

It is important to rest for a few weeks after you go home.

• Use the medication for pain and nausea exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
• You may have a slight fever for about a week.
• You may feel tired and have a loss of appetite for several weeks.

Situations when you should inform your doctor immediately

If you experience the following symptoms, notify the doctor or hospital that treated you without delay.

• If you cannot control vomiting and nausea despite taking medication.
• If you suddenly feel confused or out of control .
• If you have symptoms such as persistent fever, chills, and sweating .
• If you have yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), a sign of liver failure.

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